Clifford Freeman, 50, who has worked with the cattle alongside his father at the family farm near Hartpury, Gloucester, since he was just seven years old, said: “The number of Gloucester cows has seriously been declining over the years.

“One of the reasons for this is due to the TB regulations that have been brought into play.

“It makes moving bulls around very difficult and so a lot of farmers have given up breeding their Gloucester cattle.

“Also back in the 1970s there was lots of enthusiasm to increase the numbers of the breed. However all of those farmers are now in their 80s - there are less efforts".

Back in 1972 the breed was in danger of dying out - with only 60 bovines left in Britain.

But a small group of dedicated farmers worked furiously to increase the herds to almost 1,000 by the 1990s.

Now, the Gloucester breed, which has a white belly, tail and stripe down its spine, is in danger once again with just 450 registered cattle still alive.

Gloucester Cattle Society member, Mr Freeman added: “I would be absolutely devastated if the breed was to die out.

“Not forgetting these cows were also used to test cures for small pox - they are a crucial part of bovine history.

“People need to be given a reason to want to carry on breeding that cattle”.